Identification of novel biomarkers for gynecological cancer – when is screening becoming a reality?

Over 1.3 million women are each year diagnosed with one of three major gynecologic cancers, ovarian  cancer, endometrial cancer or cervical cancer. The burden of these cancers is increasing worldwide,  including in African countries. Except for cervical cancer, the cause of these cancers is unclear and  because the cancer has already progressed to a late stage when the woman reaches health-care, the  prognosis is not good. We are focusing on developing a test based on analysis of proteins in a small  blood sample that can indicate if the woman is at risk of developing any of the three main gynecological cancers. Such a new biomarker tests could be used to improve the diagnosis of women at risk and to  reduce the cancer incidence in population-based screening. The use of self-sampling of fingerstick  blood for the test means that sample collection could be carried out at home.